words by Andrew Friscano, photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

Neon Indian made their NYC debut Saturday, October 24th at the Root Studio in Williamsburg, on a bill with Almighty Defenders and Cale Parks. Neon Indian's first record, Psychic Chasms (which came out on October 13th), is a solo project of ex-Ghosthustler Alan Palomo, whose other, more disco "solo act," VEGA, played a Pool Party this summer. Both bands play live shows with Palomo supported by guitarist Ronald Geirhart and drummer Jason Faries. For Neon Indian, the trio adds Leanne Macomber, the singer from Texas synth duo Fight Bite.

Neon Indian play Fun Fun Fun Fest on Nov. 7th, then launch into a series of North American and European tour dates. They visit NYC's Mercury Lounge for a show on Wednesday, December 16th. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 4th noon.

More of a second set of pictures from the Root Studio show, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian - 2009 tour dates (Merc) & more pics from CMJ "

DOWNLOAD: Cale Parks - One at a Time (MP3)

photos by Andrew Frisciano, words by Benjamin Lozovsky

On Saturday October 24, a night full of swirling electronica, booze-soaked theatrics, and plenty of limey-infused glamour came together at the Topman CMJ Party at Roots Studios. The British urban fashion superstore hosted an RSVP only show at the massive studio space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which included performances by The Almighty Defenders, Neon Indian, and Cale Parks, along with DJ sets by X-Wife, Finger on the Pulse, NROTB, and Designer Drugs.

To the dismay of some concert-going hopefuls waiting in the rain outside the venue, CMJ badges weren't accepted at the event. That didn't stop the cavernous white rooms of Roots Studios from filling up to capacity with an eager, talkative, and ultra-fashionable crowd. Their anticipation was rewarded with a uniquely curated event that had free drinks spilling forward everywhere from the Svedka-sponsored open bar to the front of the stage.

The first performance was by Cale Parks, an indie scene veteran better known for his role as a multi-instrumentalist in Aloha and as a the drummer for Brooklyn-based electronic musician White Williams. His own music expands on the styles of his other gigs, melding a tightly controlled, polyrhythmic, shadowy electro experience with an undeniable layer of heart-felt sincerity. Performed songs like We Can Feel It and One At A Time demonstrated his prowess for accentuating the emotional quality of his music over a layer of hard-hitting percussion and rising and falling synth stabs. Parks' direct and plaintive vocal lines seem to balance perfectly between cozy and unsettled, as they found their place amongst the subtly subversive electronic textures he and his band construed.

continued below....

Continue reading "Neon Indian, The Almighty Defenders & Cale Park @ Roots Studios during CMJ - review, pics & video "

DOWNLOAD: Neon Indian - Terminally Chill (MP3)

Neon Indian (aka Alan Palomo)'s tour dates have been updated since August. Alan (pictured above) can currently be found down South enjoying the warm weather in Florida and will then make his way up to NYC in time for at least two shows over CMJ weekend. The first is a free-with-RSVP (topman@jellynyc.com), Topman-sponsored, JellyNYC-produced show at Root Studios in Brooklyn on Saturday night, October 24th with The Almighty Defenders, Cale Parks and a bunch of DJs: X-Wife, Finger on the Pulse, NROTB, and Designer Drugs. Flyer below.

The second Neon Indian show is the next afternoon with Real Estate at The Living Room (kids only!). Real Estate are also playing the Mexican Summer showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg unlike Washed Out who is only playing a pre-CMJ NYC show at Santos... which Finger on the Pulse are also DJing.

As you know, The Almighty Defenders is new VICE-signed group that combines King Khan, BBQ, and The Black Lips into one big band. This NYC show is one day before they play Maxwell's in Hoboken. Tickets are still on sale for that.

Neon Indian's debut album Psychic Chasms is out today (10/13) (vinyl available October 27th). Pitchfork gave it Best New Music. "Terminally Chill" from that CD is available for free download above.

All Neon Indian dates and a Topman show promo video and flyer, below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian on tour, playing free Topman show w/ The Almighty Defenders & Cale Parks during CMJ (2009 dates) "

WAVVES SUXX (Psychedelic Horseshit) @ BV day party @ Emo's - March 18, 2009

Washington Post: Vivian Girls, Wavves - why is everyone in a lo-fi band now?

Psychedlic Horseshit's Matt Whitehurst: I have no idea. I don't know. It became in vogue sometime in the last year due to a few figureheads talking a bunch of [expletive] on Terminal Boredom. And now it's exploded into this thing there where Wavves is getting $30,000 to [expletive] crank out this [expletive] generic [expletive].

There's a lot of one-person things now.

Right it's one person with GarageBand and a few chords and like -- Wavves to me sounds like [expletive] TV on the Radio. That band sucks [expletive]. It's one of the worst bands to get popular in a long time. They [expletive] trump No Age because I think it's worse than No Age. No Age is just like, [expletive]. It's really [expletive].

But you're playing at least one show with Wavves down here.

Three of them, yeah.

So how do you reconcile that?

We made "Wavves Suxx" t-shirts with it spelled S-U-X-X. We got tons of people taking pictures with us in those. People are all into it. And actually Wavves came up to our drummer and our drummer had no idea it was Wavves. And Wavves took like six pictures with Rich with the "Wavves Suxx" t-shirt on. So, you know, that little [expletive]'s probably into it or something. And is probably like, Oh, it's like hip-hop, man!

Psychedelic Horseshit is on tour with Quintron. They played Santos Party House the other night. Tonight (4/24) it's at Market Hotel. Bill just talked about Wizzard Sleeve. They're also on the bill.

Friday April 24th @ MARKET HOTEL

:: QUINTRON
:::: Psychedelic Horseshit
:::::: Wizzard Sleeve

| MARKET HOTEL |
1142 Myrtle Ave @ Bdwy | Bushwick, Bklyn

Updated WAVVES flyer and Psychedelic Horseshit dates below...

Continue reading "Psychedelic Horseshit (here) hates WAVVES (tix today)"